Author: Megan Gross

Jennifer Morani, Maria Alejandra Meneses

Note: This blog post was written as part of an optional assignment for Junior Year Writing, instructor Arwa Najmi.

Working in the Bilingual Language Lab and being a part of an underrepresented population (Latina Community) gave us a first-hand opportunity to identify one disparity in this field. Our field of Speech Language Pathology faces disparities due to its predominantly white population of workers, with 92% identifying as white, as ASHA reported, which can impact the quality of care for individuals from different backgrounds. There are only a few workers of different races, like Hispanics or African Americans.

This lack of diversity within the profession can lead to biases in assessment and treatment. It is crucial for SLPs to be culturally competent and aware of their own biases. Our lab focuses on making sure Hispanic children are represented in our field and can be seen and understood. We have experience working with many different children, both who speak English and Spanish. Most tests used for diagnosing children with speech disorders are made for English-speaking children. Still, these tests are given to children whose primary language is not English, which can lead to overdiagnosis. People in this field need to be aware of these disparities so that we are able to treat all patients equally and make sure they are getting the correct care that fits their specific needs.

In an article “Bridging the Gap: Advocating for Underrepresented Minorities in Speech Language Pathology,” by Brooke Love, she mentions a situation about a child who is considered to be in the minority who has found comfort in seeing other SLPs who are similar to him.“I got to see a speech-language pathologist who looks like me,” Carter said “One of my goals is to be a bilingual therapist and speak Spanish,” Carter said. “It was hard thinking, ‘Let me go into this profession where a lot of the students don’t look like me,’ but I felt like it was a critical need to be a black SLP who wants to work with patients who are bilingual.”

As students in this field, it can be difficult to see that your race or culture is underrepresented, and it can lead you to stay away from that field due to feeling like an outlier or being different. It is important to be different and stand up for what you want, even if others are not doing so yet; you can always be the one who encourages others to join in. We encourage more people who are from different populations to follow the Speech Language Pathology path so we can cover and help more children who need YOU.

References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2019, July). A demographic snapshot of SLPs: Data highlight some key characteristics of ASHA’s SLP members. The ASHA Leader, 24(7), 32. https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.AAG.24072019.32

Poindexter, E. (2019, November 1). Bridging the gap: Advocating for underrepresented minorities in speech-language pathology. UNC School of Medicine, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences.
https://www.med.unc.edu/healthsciences/sphs/2019/11/bridging-the-gap-advocating-for-underrepresented-minorities-in-speech-language-pathology/

Shul Sisters Collaboration: I’m Gonna Walk It With You

Sometimes music can be more powerful than written words alone. This musical collaboration expresses some of what has been on my mind and in my heart as I strive to be an ally while events in the news continue to feel disheartening. As we enter Black History month, I wanted to share it on this blog. I hope others find it to be a source of hope in collective action for racial justice.

This month, members of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee will be posting weekly to share upcoming events and various media for education and reflection, which we hope you will also continue to revisit throughout the year. While it is beneficial to have specific months dedicated to different groups and causes, the surge in awareness that often ensues should not be limited to only that month. All the many facets of our intersectional identities matter all the time!

Coming up this week:

Forgotten Lives: What They Mean, and Why They’re Important.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 4 p.m.,Old Chapel

Check out more events here: https://www.umass.edu/news/article/events-celebrating-black-history-and-culture

Ongoing: 

• UMass Black Presence Project https://www.umass.edu/diversity/blackpresence 
• Center of Racial Justice and Youth-Engaged Research: https://www.umass.edu/education/center/racial-justice 

Content warning: reference to racial violence to follow

What first connected me to the song shared above was a feeling of frustration and helplessness as I read an article last Saturday morning about Tyre Nichols, yet another Black man killed by police at a traffic stop in Memphis. I was at a loss for words that wouldn’t just feel empty. Then the rabbi closed Shabbat services that day by sharing this song. It spoke to me, and I felt moved to share it in response to these horrific events in Memphis.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that engaging with news of racial violence can bring up trauma and be extremely draining for some members of our community. Each of us has our own way of participating in efforts toward racial justice, including knowing when it is time to step away and focus on taking care of oneself and one’s own mental health. 
The Center for Counseling and Psychological Health has compiled a resource guide for Students of Color (https://www.umass.edu/counseling/resources_POC), with several links related to racial trauma.